Ayurvedic medicine is an
ancient system of health care that is native to the Indian subcontinent. It is
presently in daily use by millions of people in India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, is concerned with measureswhich
includes healthy living along with therapeutic measures that relate to physical,
mental, social and spiritual harmony.
The eight branches of Ayurveda are:
Internal medicine - Kayachikitsa
Surgery - Shalya Tantra
Ears, eyes, nose and throat - Shalakya tantra
Pediatrics - Kaumarabhritya Tantra
Toxicology - Agada Tantra
Purification of the genetic organs - Bajikarana (or Vajikarana) Tantra
Health and Longevity - Rasayana Tantra
Spiritual Healing/Psychiatry - Bhuta Vidya
See also: The Eight Armed Ayurveda
Ayurveda operates on the precept that various materials of vegetable, animal,
and mineral origin have some medicinal value. The medicinal properties of these
materials have been documented by the practitioners and have been used for
centuries to cure illness and/or help maintain good health. Ayurvedic
medicaments are made from herbs or mixtures of herbs, either alone or in
combination with minerals, metals and other ingredients of animal origin. The
metals, animals and minerals are purified by individual processes before being
used for medicinal purposes.
The forms of Ayurvedic medicaments are:
Fresh juice of herbs
Quath : Crushed herbs
Churna : Fine powdered herbs
Taila : Herbs cooked in edible oil
Ghrat/Ghrit : Herbs cooked in clarified butter
Asav/Arista/Sura : a kind of light wine obtained from fermentation of herbs
Arka : A distillation of herbs
Rasausadhi/Kharliya Rasayan : Herbs mixed with metals, minerals and animal
ingredients
Bhasma : Ashes
Parpaty : combinations of Metals, Minerals, Animal ingredients and Herbs
Kshar/Lavan/Salt/Drava are specially prepared medicaments
Guggula based medicaments
Lauha Bhasam : Mandoor Bhasam based medicaments
Avaleha/Modak/Paak/Prash : Herbs cooked in Jaggery or sugar
Bati/Gutika/Goli : Mixtures of medicines shaped in pills, pillules or tablets
Pralep/Anjan/Varti/Dhoop : Liniments, drops, paint, paste etc. for external uses
Indian Herbs
Aloe Vera, Ashwagandha , Asparagus Racemosus, Azadirachta Indica, Bacopa Monniera,
Basil Herb , Boswellia Serrata, Calamus, Cassia Angustifolia, Cassia Fistula,
Cassia Tora, Centella Asiatica , Cinchona Officinalis, Datura Stramonium,
Hyocyamus Niger, Ephedra Vulgaris, Guggul, Gymnema Sylvestre, Hedychium ,
Henna, Liquorice , Moringa Oleifera, Mucuna Pruriens, Papaver Somniferum,
Pudina, Psyllium Husk , Pterocarpus Marsupium, Punica Granatum,
Quince ¤ Rhubarb , Safed Musli , Sarsaparilla , Syzygium Cumini,
Juglans Regia, Terminalia Arjuna, Terminalia Belerica, Terminalia Chebula
,
Tinospora Cordifolia , Tribulus Terrestris, Valeriana Wallichii ,
Vinca Rosea , Zingiber Officinalis
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